“We thought this true story from decades ago would provide a freshly skewed view on love and consent and the long term damage of abuse. But in a fun way.”
Responder: Stephen Banks, Artistic Director
Name of Company: Mixed Revues
Name of Show: The Manacled Mormon
1. Why should anybody see your show?
I’m not so sure that “anybody” should see this show. Only the very special best kind of people should come. People who aren’t afraid of a little scandal, a little controversy, a little thought and a little skin.
2. Why Atlanta?
Well, I’m here. And I’ve been pushing the boundaries on Atlanta stages for years. Mixed Revues’ first production was “Touched,” a world premier at the first Atlanta Fringe Festival. Since then we’ve launched Quills and Venus in Fur, and I’ve worked with other local companies on shows like The Lady From Dubuque. I’ve also appeared in two TwinHead shows at Atlanta Fringe, most recently playing Ted Turner. Atlanta Fringe just feels like home.
3. What inspired you to create this?
Not so much what as who. This show is the brain-and-heart-child of award winning local playwright Kate Guyton. After our first collaboration (I directed her short play “Blood Doll”) Kate told me about her passion for this story, and I recognized it as perfect material for Fringe. The #MeToo movement was building steam, and we thought this true story from decades ago would provide a freshly skewed view on love and consent and the long term damage of abuse. But in a fun way.
4. What’s your process for creating and rehearsing something like this?
Kate and I created the show through a simple process: We had coffee for a couple of hours at Starbucks to discuss what we wanted to get out of the story, and then she did all the work of actually writing it. It was her baby, after all. After a couple of drafts, we met again over dinner, and she went back and did the rest of the work.
Initially, I was going to direct the show, but once the first draft was done I knew I had to play Kurt. So I brought in Beth DiYenno, a director who I knew had the affinity and delicate touch for this type of material. I’d directed Courtney Loner in “Blood Doll” so I already knew she’d be a natural bringing Kate’s vision to life. Really, all I had to do was learn my lines and these amazing women did all the hard work.
5. What have you learned from working on your show so far?
Did you know that you can’t buy Mormon “Temple garment” underwear unless you can prove you are actually a practicing Mormon? I didn’t.
I’m far more sympathetic to Kurt’s Mormon misgivings than I thought I would be. In fact, the show barely touches on Mormonism specifically, and I think respectfully. Kurt’s struggle isn’t with being a Mormon, it is with facing his moral convictions and upbringing, and living with the aftermath of having them shattered. But as Matt Stone demonstrated, putting “Mormon” in the title is a huge draw. And the real-life Kirk that Kurt is based on was a Mormon. Mormon, Mormon, Mormon.
6. Tyler Perry, Jane Fonda, Killer Mike and Donald Glover roll up at your show. There is one ticket left. Who gets it?
I’d like to think that Jane Fonda would be willing to sit in Donald Glover’s lap.
7. Atlanta’s foodie scene is really on point these days. What does your show taste like? (Bonus points if you can name-check an ATL restaurant.)
This show is a Grindhouse Impossible Burger. But with real meat.
8. Fringes are the place to really push the boundaries so we gotta ask: would you want your parents in the front row or would you tell them, “Maybe skip this one, guys…”?
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
On the other hand, we had early rehearsals at my house, and my lovely wife Barbara didn’t complain once about the bed with attached handcuffs taking up what had been our dining room. And I’m pretty sure at least two of my kids will see it.
9. Will your show save mankind?
Yes.
10. Oh boy! After your first show a genie pops out of a bottle and offers you a choice – world peace or your show enjoying a ten-year run on Broadway. What shall it be?
I’m going with world peace, because they’d probably replace me with Hugh Jackman and let Nathan Lane direct. Kate may feel otherwise, since world peace would never get a ten year run.
11. Describe your show in three words.
Funny not funny
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